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HOW  TO  GET  THE 
LAST  TICK 


OBSERVATIONS  RESULTING  FROMXXI*        aik 
ACTIVE   FIELD  EXPERIENCE 
TICK  ERADICATION 

By 

W.  M.  MaeKELLAR 

Tick  Eradication  Division 


A  Ticky  Heifer 


BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C 


1922 


WASHINGTON    :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING   OFFICE    :  1932 


TIME  REQUIRED  TO 

FREE 

PASTURES 

FROM  TICKS  in 

STARVATION. 

Date  of  remo\  ;il  of  all 

D< 

ite  w ben  pasture  w ill 

animals  from  pasture. 

be 

FREE  FROM  ticks. 

July  1 

• 

March    1 

August  1  . 

• 

\la>    1 

September  L 

. 

July  1 

October  1  to  November  1,  incl 

usive  . 

August    1 

December  1 

. 

August    15 

December  15  to  March  15,  im 

lusive  . 

September  1 

April  1 

• 

September  L5 

April  15     . 

• 

October  L5 

May  1  to  June  15,  inclusive 

• 

November  1 

HOW  TO  GET  THE 
LAST  TICK 


.•  >  • , > 


OBSERVATIONS  RESULTING  FROM 

ACTIVE  FIELD  EXPERIENCE  IN 

TICK  ERADICATION 


By 

W.  M.  MacKELLAR 

Tick  Eradication  Division 


BUREAU  OF  ANIMAL  INDUSTRY 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1922 


LIB' 
G 


Gift 


ft 

58 


HOW  TO  GET  THE   LAST  TICK. 


INTRODUCTION. 

During  the  past  15  years  results  obtained  in  eradi- 
cating cattle  ticks  from  the  infested  areas  of  the 
United  States  have  clearly  established  the  fact  that 
it  is  possible  and  practicable  to  eliminate  this  pest 
permanently  from  any  section  of  the  country.  This 
is  true  whether  the  infested  cattle  are  under  fence  or 
on  open  range,  or  whether  the  infested  locality  is  rough, 
swampy,  wooded,  or  otherwise.  The  large  area  that 
has  been  freed  and  remains  tick-free  is  positive  proof 
of  the  value  of  this  work  which,  more  than  any  other 
factor,  is  making  possible  the  establishment  of  a 
growing^  and  profitable  cattle  industry  in  the  South. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  all  necessary  in- 
formation regarding  the  cattle  tick  (Margaropus 
annulatus),  the  disease  which  it  transmits,  and  a 
positive  method  for  its  complete  eradication  are,  and 
for  years  past  have  been,  available,  tick  eradication 
continues  to  present  many  problems  which  vary  with 
the  locality  in  which  the  work  is  being  conducted. 
In  fact,  in  its  last  analysis,  it  is  a  community  problem 
and  therefore  is,  and  always  must  be,  a  work  of  the 

Note. — The  author  of  this  circular  was  assigned  in  1906  to  the  duties  of 
inspector  in  charge  of  tick  eradication  in  the  State  of  California.  On  final 
completion  of  the  work  in  that  State  in  1916,  including  an  area  of  nearly 
80,000  square  miles,  he  was  transferred  to  the  same  duties  in  the  State  of 
Georgia.  In  the  five  years  following,  up  to  the  time  of  his  transfer  back  to 
California  at  his  own  request,  he  cooperated  successfully  with  the  Georgia 
State  officials  and  succeeded  in  practically  eliminating  cattle  ticks  from 
approximately  80  Georgia  counties. 

3 


•  .-       ...... 

.  •  •  • . 


4  HOW  TO  GET  THE    LA8T  TICK. 

people  in  which  success  or  failure  depends  largely  on 
the  degree  of  support  and  cooperation  given.  How- 
ever, in  tick  eradication,  as  in  all  other  undertakings, 
a  leader  is  essential  to  plan  and  direct  the  campaign, 
and  as  the  leadership  in  the  fight  to  eliminate  the  tick 
is  usually  taken  by  the  inspector,  the  purpose  of  this 
circular  is  to  emphasize  a  few  of  the  fundamental 
facts,  a  knowledge  of  which  is  essential,  and  to  out- 
line a  working  plan  that  will  assist  him  in  carrying 
out  the  details  of  this  work. 

LIFE    HISTORY   OF   THE    TICK   IMPORTANT. 

To  employ  intelligently  and  successfully  methods 
of  eradicating  the  cattle  tick,  it  is  of  first  importance 
to  know  the  life  history  of  this  t'ck,  as  it  is  on  the  life 
cycle,  which  never  changes,  that  all  plans  of  exter- 
mination are  based.  The  usual  host  (animal  infested) 
for  this  tick  is  cattle ;  and  while  several  other  kinds 
or  species  of  ticks  are  found  on  cattle  in  the 
Southern  States,  it  is  the  one  most  frequently  found 
and  1  )y  far  the  most  numerous. 

The  cattle  tick  is  often  confused  with  the  other 
species  of  ticks  occasionally  found  on  cattle,  and  every 
inspector  engaged  in  tick  eradication  should  learn  to 
identify  and  distinguish  the  cattle  tick  from  the  harm- 
less varieties.  With  a  little  study,  and  by  comparing 
the  various  kinds,  particularly  adult  females,  it  is  not 
a  difficult  matter  to  differentiate  between  the  ticks 
that  may  be  found  on  cattle.  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  Farmers'  Bulletin  No.  569,  "Texas 
or  lick  Fever,"  describes  and  illustrates  the  ticks 
found  on  cattle,  and  will  be  of  great  assistance  to 
those  who  wish  to  become  familiar  with  the  subject. 
Horses  and  mules  are  sometimes  infested  with  this 
tick,  and  when  they  are  permitted  to  range  on  tick- 


HOW   TO   GET  THE   LAST  TICK. 


EXAS  FEVER  TICKS 


SEED  TICKS 


I 


NYMPH 


ADULT  MALE 


YOUNG 
ADULT   FEMALE 


ENGORGED  ADULT  FEMALE 


FEMALE  LAYING  EGGS 


Fig.  1  .—Texas-fever  ticks  at  various  stages  of  development.    (Magnified  5  times. ) 


6  HOW   TO   GET  THE   LAST   TICK. 

infested  pastures  they  must  be  given  the  same  con- 
sideration as  cattle. 

In  describing  the  life  history  of  this  tick  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  start  at  the  point  where  the  fully  devel- 
oped and  fertilized  female,  engorged  with  blood, 
loosens  her  hold  on  the  skin  of  the  cow  and  drops  to 
the  ground,  where  she  at  once  searches  for  a  hiding 
place  under  grass,  leaves,  or  other  litter  affording 
protection  from  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun.  She 
begins  laying  her  eggs  in  from  2  days  to  3  weeks 
later,  in  spring,  summer,  or  fall,  while  during  the  win- 
ter months  this  process  may  be  delayed  anywhere 
from  2  weeks  to  3  months.  The  eggs  are  voided  from 
an  opening  on  the  underside  of  the  body,  just  back 
of  the  head,  and  appear  in  a  gradually  growing, 
grapelike  cluster,  and  may  be  from  a  few  hundred  to 
as  many  as  5,000,  95  per  cent  of  which  will  hatch 
under  favorable  conditions.  Egg  laying  may  be 
completed  in  4  days  in  summer,  or  may  be  prolonged 
as  much  as  5  months  during  winter.  When  laying  is 
finished,  the  mother  tick  is  small  and  shriveled,  and 
soon  dies. 

The  eggs  are  very  small,  oval-shaped,  and  brown- 
ish in  color,  and  as  laid  they  are  coated  with  a  sticky 
secretion  which  causes  them  to  adhere  in  clusters 
and  no  doubt  keeps  them  from  drying.  In  from  19 
days  in  summer  to  6  months  during  the  fall  and 
winter  the  eggs  begin  to  hatch.  The  little  brown, 
six-legged  larvae,  or  seed  ticks,  crawl  from  the  eggs 
and  soon  ascend  near-by  vegetation,  thereby  increas- 
ing their  chances  of  reaching  a  host — which  is  abso- 
lutely essential  to  their  further  development.  As 
soon  as  opportunity  is  offered  they  attach  themselves 
to  a  passing  of  resting  cow,  of  in  exceptional  cases 
to  horses  and  mules.      Tailing  to  find  a  host,  the  ^m\ 


HOW   TO   GET  THE   EAST   TICK. 


tick  will  starve  in  from  2  to  8  months,  depending  on 
the  season  of  the  year.  The  seed  tick  takes  no  food 
and  does  not  increase  in  size  until  reaching  a  host. 
It  must  have  the  blood  of  cattle  (or  horses  and  mules) 
for  its  development. 

Soon  after  reaching  a  favorable  host  the  seed  tick 
attaches  itself  to  the  skin  and  begins  to  draw  blood 
at  once,  increasing  in  size.  In  a  few  days  the  young 
tick  changes  from  a  brown  color  to  white,  and  in 
from  5  to  12  days  it  sheds  its  skin,  or  molts,  acquir- 


Fig.  2.— The  111  I  le  brown,  six-legged  larvtc,  or  seed  ticks,  crawl  from  (he  eggs  and 
soon  ascend  near-by  vegetal  ion. 

ing  a  fourth  pair  of  legs,  and  is  then  known  as  a 
nymph. 

In  from  5  to  11  days  after  the  first  molt  the  tick 
again  sheds  its  skin  and  becomes  sexually  mature. 
The  male,  measuring  about  one-tenth  of  an  inch  in 
length,  is  now  fully  developed  and  is  seen  as  a  small 
brown,  oval  tick  of  considerable  activity.  The  fe- 
male at  the  time  of  this  molting  is  slightly  larger 
than  the  male;  she  is  not  active,  and  seldom  moves 
from  her  original  point  of  attachment.  After  mat- 
ing, the  female  develops  rapidly  and  has  been  known 
to  become  fully  engorged  in  48  hours  after  the  second 
molt,  but  usually  from  4  days  to  a  week  are  required. 


8  HOW  TO  GET  Tin:  last  tick. 

The  time  that  elapses  between  the  attachment  of 
the  tick  as  a  seed  tick  and  its  dropping  from  the 
animal  as  a  fully  engorged  female  is  generally  about 
3  weeks.  The  greatest  length  of  time  that  a  tick 
has  been  observed  to  stay  on  an  animal  is  66  days. 

METHODS    OF    ERADICATION. 

With  an  understanding  of  the  life  history  and  de- 
velopment of  ticks,  it  is  evident  that  they  may  be 
attacked  in  two  locations,  namely,  on  the  pasture 
and  on  the  cattle.  Pastures  may  be  rendered  tick- 
free  by  excluding  all  cattle,  horses,  and  mules  until 
all  ticks  have  died  from  starvation,  or  by  the  more 
common  practice  of  permitting  the  cattle  to  remain 
on  the  infested  pasture  and  disinfecting  them  at  regu- 
lar intervals  in  an  arsenical  bath,  thus  preventing 
the  maturing  of  the  tick  on  the  cattle  and  reinfesta- 
tion  of  the  pasture.  The  seed  ticks  on  the  pasture, 
or  those  which  hatch  from  eggs  laid  by  females  on 
the  ground  before  dipping  begins,  will  in  time  starve 
out,  or,  if  they  get  upon  the  cattle,  will  be  destroyed 
by  the  dipping. 

This  brings  up  the  question  of  the  time  required  to 
kill  ticks  by  starvation,  and  the  following  table, 
which  was  prepared  after  careful  investigation,  is 
quoted  from  Farmers'  Bulletin  No.  498,  "Extermi- 
nation of  the  Texas-Fever  Tick,"  United  States  De- 
partment of  Agriculture4,  and  may  be  depended  upon 
as  a  reliable  answer  to  this  question: 


HOW   TO  OET  THE  LAST  TICK.  9 

Time  required  to  free  pastures  from  ticks  by  starvation. 


Date  when  pasture 

Date  of  removal  of  all  animals  from  pasture. 

will  be  free  from 

ticks. 

July  1 . 

March  1. 

August  1 . 

May  1. 

September  1. 

July  1. 

October  ]  to  November  1,  inclusive. 

August  1 . 

December  1 . 

August  15. 

December  15  to  March  15,  inclusive. 

September  1 . 

April  1 . 

September  15. 

April  15. 

October  15. 

May  1  to  June  15',  inclusive. 

November  1 . 

This  table  may  also  be  used  as  an  accurate  guide  to 
determine  the  length  of  time  it  is  necessary  to  con- 
tinue systematic  dipping  to  insure  complete  eradica- 
tion. It  is  evident  that  if  all  ticks  are  prevented  by 
dipping  from  maturing  and  reinfesting  a  pasture, 
that  pasture  should  be  tick-free  in  the  same  length 
of  time  that  it  would  take  to  starve  out  the  ticks  if  all 
cattle,  horses,  and  mules  were  excluded.  In  the  appli- 
cation of  this  knowledge,  where  dipping  is  the  means 
of  preventing  pasture  reinfestation,  it  is,  of  course, 
necessary  that  careful  inspection  be  made  at  the  time 
of  dipping  to  determine  when  mature  ticks  are  last 
found  on  the  cattle;  the  time  dipping  must  continue 
is  estimated  from  that  date.  In  using  this  plan  it 
has  been  the  policy  of  the  writer,  with  satisfactory 
results,  as  a  margin  of  safety,  to  add  30  days  to  the 
starvation  period.  For  example,  mature  ticks  (not 
necessarily  engorged)  are  last  found  on  cattle  being 
dipped  on  June  1 — then  those  cattle  should  be 
dipped  regularly  at  14-day  intervals  until  November 
30 ;  or  if  mature  ticks  are  found  July  1,  the  eradication 
will  not  be  completed  until  the  following  April  1. 

Systematic  dipping  in  an  arsenical  solution  is  the 
method  most  generally  followed  in  tick  eradication. 

86143°— 22 2 


10  HOW   TO  GET  THE   LAST  TICK. 

Occasionally,  however,  it  is  feasible  to  employ  the 
"starvation"  or  "pasture-resting"  method  in  elim- 
inating the  tick  from  a  pasture. 

"PASTUKE    RESTING." 

This  is  no  doubt  one  of  the  simplest  methods  of 
eradicating  ticks  when  the  local  conditions  are  right 
for  its  proper  use.  To  be  successful  it  requires  close 
attention  to  details  and  the  thorough  cooperation  of 
the  cattle  owner.  The  pasture  to  be  "rested"  must 
be  inclosed  with  good  fences  or  natural  barriers 
impassable  for  cattle,  horses,  or  mules,  and  care  must 
be  taken  to  prevent  these  animals  from  getting  into 
the  pasture  during  the  resting  period.  If,  in  inclosing 
a  pasture  for  this  purpose,  it  is  necessary  to  build 
fences,  these,  as  far  as  possible,  should  be  made  to 
traverse  rough,  inaccessible  land  where  feed  is  short 
and  where  cattle  will  consequently  have  little  tend- 
ency to  stray  directly  up  to  the  fences  surrounding 
the  resting  area.  When  the  pasture  has  been  rested 
for  the  required  length  of  time,  determined  by  refer- 
ring to  the  table  "Time  required  to  free  pastures  from 
ticks  by  starvation,"  it  is  ready  to  be  stocked  with 
tick-free  cattle.  The  only  precaution  necessary  to 
keep  the  area  free  is  to  see  that  all  cattle,  horses,  or 
mules  entering  the  premises  are  tick-free. 

DIPPING. 

Ticks  upon  cattle  may  be  destroyed  by  the  use4  of 
various  agents,  such  as  oils,  arsenic,  etc,  which  may 
be  applied  by  hand,  by  the  use  of  a  spray  pump,  or 
by   means  of  the  dipping    vat.1     bong   experience 

1  For  directions  for  constructing  a  dipping  vat,  see  Farmers'  Bulletin  lor>7, 
"  Cattle-Fever  Ticks. "  I'm-  methods  of  preparation  of  arsenical  cattle  'lip*. 
Bee  Farmers'  Bulletin  No,  60S,  "Arsenical  Cattle  Dips." 


HOW   TO   GET  THE   LAST   TICK. 


11 


having  shown  the  dipping  vat  to  be  the  cheapest  and 
best  method  of  treating  animals  for  ticks,  dipping  in  an 
arsenical  solution  at  14-day  intervals  is  now  the 
method  of  disinfection  in  nearly  universal  use  in 
systematic  tick  eradication. 

The  work  of  dipping  will  be  greatly  facilitated  by 
properly  constructed  vats  and  well-arranged  pens  and 
chutes,  and  the  inspector  should  try  to  arrange  these 
details    before    the    season's    dipping    begins.     The 


Fig.  3.— Long  experience  has  shown  the  dipping  vat  to  be  the  cheapest  and  best  method  of  treating 

animals  for  ticks. 

little  extra  expense  required  to  put  the  dipping  plant 
in  good  working  order  will  be  more  than  repaid  by 
the  ease  with  which  the  cattle  can  be  handled  and 
time  saved  in  the  operation. 

Cattle  dipping  in  an  arsenical  bath  of  proper 
strength  in  a  well-constructed  vat  is  a  simple  and  safe 
treatment,  which  with  reasonable  care  is  accompanied 
by  no  risk  or  danger  of  injury  to  the  treated  animal. 
Accidents  are  usually  due  to  carelessness  and  can  be 


12  HOW   TO  GET  THE    LAST  TICK. 

avoided  in  nearly  all  cases  by  the  use  of  a  little  com- 
mon sense.  Before  any  cat  lie  are  dipped  the  solu- 
tion in  the  vat  must  be  thoroughly  stirred,  tested,  and 
brought  to  proper  strength.  All  cattle  should  be 
watered  not  more  than  4  or  5  hours  prior  to  dipping. 
Cattle  should  not  be  dipped  when  they  are  hot,  and 
after  dipping  they  should  be  allowed  to  return  to 
their  home  range  at  their  leisure.  After  dipping 
they  should  be  held  in  the  dripping  pen  until  the  ex- 
cess dip  stops  dripping  from  their  bodies.  The  in- 
spector should  insist  that  cattle  be  handled  carefully 
and  humanely  at  dipping  vats.  The  best  time  to  dip 
is  in  the  cool  of  the  early  morning,  with  the  exception 
that  in  some  cases  it  is  advisable  to  dip  work  oxen 
Saturday  afternoon  so  that  they  may  rest  the  follow- 
ing Sunday. 

The  virtue  of  arsenic  as  a  tick-destroying  agent 
lies  in  its  poisonous  properties.  The  fact  that  it  is  a 
violent  poison  to  man  and  animals  should  never  be 
forgotten.  AYhite  arsenic,  concentrated  solutions, 
and  proprietary  dips  must  be  kept  in  tight  containers 
inaccessible  to  animals  and  children,  preferably  in  a 
locked  room  used  only  for  their  storage.  If,  by  acci- 
dent, concentrated  solution  or  proprietary  dip  gets 
on  the  skin  or  clothing  it  should  be  removed  imme- 
diately by  thorough  washing.  Puddles  that  may 
accumulate  about  the  vat  during  dipping  should  bo 
filled  with  fresh  earth  as  soon  as  possible  and  all  gales 
to  the  vat  corrals  should  be  kept  closed  between  dip- 
pings. When  a  vat  is  to  be  emptied  the  waste  solu- 
tion should  be  run  into  a  pit,  guarded  by  a  fence. 
where  it  will  seep  away,  care  being  taken  to  see  that 
the  seepage  can  not  reach  a  water  supply. 

When  dipping  is  begun  in  the  spring  the  arsenical 
solution    used   should   always   l>e   freshly    prepared 


HOW   TO   GET  THE  LAST  TICK.  13 

Never  use  a  bath  carried  over  the  winter.  In  pre- 
paring the  bath  for  the  first  spring  dipping  it  should 
not  test  higher  than  0.14  per  cent,  as  indicated  by  the 
field  test  for  arsenical  bath.  At  the  following  two  or 
three  dippings  the  strength  of  the  solution  should  be 
increased  gradually  until  it  will  give  a  test  of  about 
0.18  per  cent,  and  it  should  be  held  to  a  test  of  between 
0.18  and  0.20  per  cent  for  the  remainder  of  the  dip- 
ping season  by  replenishing,  or  in  case  it  becomes 
filthy,  by  complete  renewal. 

In  systematic  tick  eradication  it  is  best  to  begin 
dipping  during  March,  for  the  reason  that  that  is  the 
beginning  of  the  period  when  tick  development  is 
rapid,  and  the  length  of  time  they  will  live  on  the 
host  and  on  the  pasture  is  shortest.  Proper  dipping 
of  all  cattle  in  a  given  area  at  14-day  intervals,  begin- 
ning in  March  and  continuing  until  November,  will 
result  in  complete  eradication  of  the  cattle  tick. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    FORCE. 

In  tick  eradication  it  is  customary  to  take '  up 
systematic  work  in  units,  a  county  usually  comprising 
such  a  division,  in  which  the  work  is  carried  on  by  a 
cooperative  State,  county,  and  Federal  force  working 
in  that  county.  This  force  should  consist  of  a  super- 
vising inspector,  local  inspectors,  and  range  riders. 

Supervising  inspector. — The  duties  of  the  supervis- 
ing inspector  are  to  keep  in  close  personal  touch  with 
all  details  of  the  work,  to  assign  the  local  inspectors 
and  range  riders  to  their  divisions  of  territory,  in- 
struct them  regarding  their  duties,  and  personally 
supervise  their  work.  All  reports  rendered  by  local 
inspectors  and  range  riders  should  pass  through  his 
hands,  and  any  irregularities,  such  as  failure  to  dip, 
complaints,  etc.,  should  be  promptly  investigated  and 


14  HOW   TO  GET  THE  LAST  TICK. 

adjusted.  He  should  meet  cattle  owners  and  inter- 
ested county  officials  frequently,  keeping  them  ad- 
vised regarding  the  work,  progress  being  made,  and 
where  and  how  they  can  assist  and  hasten  completion 
of  the  job. 

Local  inspector. — The  local  inspector  is  usually  ap- 
pointed from  the  district  in  which  he  is  to  work,  and 
is  selected  because  of  his  knowledge  of  local  conditions 
and  familiarity  with  the  cattle  industry.  He  is  as- 
signed to  a  district,  usually  10  or  12  adjacent  vats, 
and  conducts  the  inspection  and  dipping  of  all  cattle 
in  that  section.  Upon  taking  up  systematic  work  the 
local  inspector's  first  duty  is  to  make  a  "cattle 
census"  in  his  district.  In  doing  this  he  should  visit 
each  cattle  owner  in  his  territory,  make  a  correct 
record  of  his  name,  address,  and  number  of  cattle. 
He  should  advise  the  cattle  owners  regarding  the 
work  about  to  be  taken  up  and  explain  why  their 
cooperation  is  essential  to  success.  At  this  time 
each  owner  should  be  served  with  a  dipping  notice 
indicating  the  date  dipping  will  begin  and  the  vat 
at  which  he  is  to  dip.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  local 
inspector  to  keep  his  vats  and  dipping  solution  in 
proper  condition,  and  to  check  and  record  correctly 
all  cattle  dipped  by  him.  He  is  required  to  report 
his  work  promptly  to  the  supervising  inspector  on 
forms  furnished  for  that  purpose. 

Range  rider. — A  man  to  fill  this  position  should  be 
acquainted  with  the  section  in  which  he  is  to  work, 
and  should  be  a  good  rider,  experienced  in  handling 
cattle.  He  should  have  legal  authority  to  enter  any 
premises  in  the  performance  of  his  duty,  and  be  re- 
quired to  furnish  a  good  saddle  horse  for  use  in  the 
work.  It  is  the  rider's  duty  to  assist  the  local  in- 
spector at  the  time  of  dipping  in  checking  and  mark- 


HOW   TO   GET  THE   LAST  TICK. 


15 


ing  cattle,  to  help  owners  in  penning  their  stock  at 
the  vat,  and  to  visit  those  who  are  tardy  or  fail  to 
dip,  assisting  them,  if  necessary,  in  getting  cattle 
to  the  vat.  Within  a  day  or  two  following  the  dip- 
ping the  range  rider  should  ride  thoroughly  the  range 


Fig.  4. — The  range  rider  should  ride  the  range  thoroughly  in  search  of  any  cattle  that  have  not  been 
dipped.  In  this  search  he  should  not  confine  himself  to  the  woods  and  ranges,  but  visit  barns,  lots, 
pastures,  or  any  other  place  where  he  may  suspect  that  an  undipped  cow  or  calf  may  be,  always 
working  with  the  object  in  view  to  make  each  dipping  100  per  cent  of  the  cattle. 

tributary  to  that  vat  in  search  of  any  cattle  that  have 
not  been  dipped.  In  this  search  he  should  not  con- 
fine himself  to  the  woods  and  ranges,  but  visit  barns, 
lots,  pastures,  or  any  other  place  where  he  may  sus- 
pect that  an  undipped  cow  or  calf  may  be,  always 


10  HOW   TO  GET  THE  LAST  TICK. 

working  with  the  object  in  view  to  make  each  dip- 
ping 100  per  cent  of  the  cattle.  Legal  authority 
should  be  provided  for  promptly  disposing  of  any  un- 
dipped cattle  found  by  the  rider  in  the  event  that  the 
owner  fails  or  refuses  to  dip  them  at  once.  The 
most  satisfactory  manner  of  disposal  is  to  authorize 
the  dipping  of  the  cattle  at  the  owner's  expense,  the 
expense  incurred  becoming  a  lien  on  the  cattle,  and 
providing  for  the  sale  of  the  cattle  to  cover  the  costs, 
if  not  promptly  paid  by  the  owner. 

PAINT-MARK    CHECK. 

To  dip  only  a  part  of  the  cattle  on  a  range  or  in  an 
infested  community  delays  completion  of  the  work 
indefinitely.  It  is,  therefore,  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance that  a  system  of  checking  dipped  cattle  for 
identification  be  adopted. 

The  paint-mark  method  of  checking  dipped  cat- 
tle is  of  great  assistance  in  insuring  the  disinfection 
of  all  cattle  in  large,  rough  pastures  and  open  ranges 
and  should  be  provided  for  in  all  regulations  govern- 
ing tick  eradication. 

In  using  this  check,  the  mark  should  be  placed 
uniformly  each  time  it  is  used,  changing  the  location 
as  necessary.  For  example,  the  mark  at  the  first 
dipping  may  be  placed  on  the  left  shoulder,  the  second 
on  the  left  side,  and  the  third  on  the  left  hip.  Sheep- 
branding  fluid  or  ink,  which  can  be  ordered  from  any 
paint  dealer,  will  be  found  a  cheap  and  satisfactory 
material  for  this  use  if  procured  in  a  distinctive  color, 
such  as  bright  red  or  bright  green.  Best  results  will 
be  obtained  by  applying  the  paint  mark  on  the  dry 
hair  as  the  cattle  enter  the  vat.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  smear  the  paint  over  a  large  surface;  a  circular 
spot  3  or  4  inches  in  diameter  can  be  distinguished  at 


HOW-TO   GET  THE   LAST  TICK.  17 

a  considerable  distance  and  with  a  little  practice  the 
range  rider  can  accurately  identify  cattle  that  have 
not  been  dipped  and  marked. 

RECORDS. 

The  importance  of  complete  and  correct  field 
records  in  systematic  tick  eradication  can  not  be  too 
strongly  emphasized.  Without  such  records  it  is 
practically  impossible  to  conduct  the  work  properly 
during  the  dipping  season;  and  at  the  close  of  the 
season,  if  reliable  records  are  not  available,  the  tick 
status  of  the  herds  and  ranges  can  not  be  determined, 
and  the  question  of  release  from  quarantine  is  prob- 
lematical. 

The  best  and  simplest  method  of  keeping  these 
records  is  by  use  of  the  card-record  system  devised 
by  the  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  using  the  form 
known  as  Tick  Form  48-G.  This  card  is  so  arranged 
that  it  furnishes  all  necessary  information  with  a 
minimum  of  clerical  work. 

The  local  inspector  should  make  a  48-G  card 
record  for  each  herd  in  his  territory.  These  indi- 
vidual cards  should  be  taken  to  the  vat  at  every 
dipping  and  proper  entry  made  on  each  owner's 
card  as  soon  as  his  cattle  are  inspected  and  dipped. 
The  supervising  inspector  should  examine  these 
records  at  frequent  intervals  to  see  that  they  are 
correctly  kept.  In  additional  to  the  individual  48-G 
record,  one  card,  giving  the  total  number  of  herds 
and  cattle,  should  be  kept  for  each  vat.  This  vat 
record  should  be  made  in  duplicate,  one  being  kept 
by  the  local  inspector  in  conjunction  with  his  indi- 
vidual record,  the  other  by  the  supervising  inspector, 
who  will  make  the  entries  on  his  card  from  the  daily 
dipping  reports  rendered  by  the  local  inspector. 


18  HOW   TO  GET  THE  LAST  TICK. 

RELEASE  OF  AREAS  FROM  QUARANTINE. 

At  the  close  of  the  season's  work,  usually  Decem- 
ber 1,  the  question  must  be  decided  whether  or  not 
the  area  in  which  systematic  tick  eradication  has 
been  conducted  is  in  condition  for  release  from  State 
and  Federal  quarantine,  and  a  correct  decision  can  be 
reached  only  by  carefully  studying  the  records  cover- 
ing the  season's  work,  and  giving  due  consideration 


Fig.  5.— The  large  area  that  has  been  freed  and  remains  tick-free  is  making  possible  tlic  establishment  of 
a  growing  and  profitable  cattle  industry  in  the  South. 

to  local  conditions  that  will  affect  the  final  clean-up  in 
that  area.  A  county  that  has  expended  its  funds  in 
this  work,  and  individual  cattle  owners  who  have 
cooperated  faithfully  and  have  eliminated  the  tick 
from  their  premises  are  entitled  to  the  benefits  that 
follow  release  from  State  and  Federal  quarantine,  and 
should  receive  this  relief  just  as  soon  as  it  can  be 
given  with  safety. 


HOW   TO   GET  THE   LAST  TICK.  19 

As  a  general  rule  it  is  not  advisable  to  release  an 
area  that  comprises  less  than  a  county.  If  the  ideal 
has  been  attained  and  the  work  carried  out  100  per 
cent  perfect,  ticks  will  be  eradicated  at  the  end  of  the 
season  and  the  county  will  be  in  perfect  condition 
for  release.  However,  as  this  ideal  condition  is  the 
exception  rather  than  the  rule,  it  is  usually  necessary 
to  decide  whether  or  not,  in  the  event  of  release  from 
quarantine,  the  infestation  that  remains  may  be  con- 
trolled without  danger  to  the  released  area.  With 
a  correct  48-G  card  record,  the  exact  status,  as  re- 
gards tick  infestation,  may  be  easily  determined,  the 
pastures  or  ranges  that  will  probably  show  infesta- 
tion during  the  following  season  may  be  definitely 
located,  and  the  question  of  exposure  to  adjoining 
free  area  determined.  If  all  cattle  in  the  county  are 
held  under  fence,  that  county  may  be  safely  released 
from  quarantine  even  if  a  considerable  number,  up  to 
1  per  cent,  of  the  herds  have  to  be  held  under  local 
or  farm  quarantine  to  complete  eradication.  How- 
ever, such  release  should  be  made  only  with  the  dis- 
tinct understanding  and  agreement  on  the  part  of 
State  and  county  officials  that  the  infested  herds  will 
be  held  under  strict  quarantine  and  that  the  eradi- 
cation work  on  these  premises  will  proceed  without 
interruption  until  completed. 

The  final  work  of  eradicating  ticks  in  infested  herds 
remaining  under  local  quarantine  requires  careful 
attention,  and  this  work  should  always  be  assigned 
to  an  experienced  inspector,  who  is  required  to  in- 
spect and  supervise  personally  the  dipping  of  all 
cattle  remaining  under  quarantine.  Because  ticks 
were  " nearly"  eradicated  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
it  is  not  safe  to  depend  upon  inspections  to  deter- 
mine  the   freedom   of   the   herd.     Regular   dipping 


20  HOW   TO  GET  THE  LAST  TICK. 

should  be  insisted  upon  until  sufficient  time  has 
elapsed  since  ticks  were  last  found  to  insure  eradica- 
tion. "  When  in  doubt  dip"  is  a  good  rule  to  follow 
in  final  work. 

In  "open"  or  "free"  range  counties  the  matter  of 
release  from  quarantine  while  infestation  remains  in 
the  county  requires  careful  consideration  of  local  con- 
ditions, and  unless  the  infested  area  is  small  and 
separated  from  the  tick-free  area  by  a  natural  barrier, 
such  as  a  river,  the  county  should  not  be  released 
from  quarantine  until  tick  eradication  is  completed. 
Under  open-range  conditions,  where  one  careless 
owner  by  neglecting  to  disinfect  properly  one  cow 
may  expose  a  range  used  by  100  other  herds  and 
thereby  place  all  herds  in  the  same  status  as  his,  tick 
eradication  more  than  ever  is  a  community  problem 
which  will  be  disposed  of  only  when  the  community 
as  a  whole  completes  tick  eradication. 

O 


Systematic 
Dipping  in  an 
Arsenical  Solution 

Is  the  method  most  followed  in 
tick  eradication.  Occasionally, 
however,  it  is  feasible  to  employ 
the  "  Starvation  "  or  "  Pasture- 
Resting"  method  in  eliminating 
the  tick  from  a  pasture. 

Proper  dipping  of  all  cattle 

at  14-day  intervals, 

beginning  in  March  and  con- 
tinuing   until    November, 

Will  Lead  to 
Final 

Eradication  of 
Cattle  Ticks. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL   BE   ASSESSED   FOR   FAILURE  TO   RETURN 
THIS    BOOK   ON    THE   DATE   DUE.    THE   PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY    AND    TO    $1.00    ON    THE    SEVENTH     DAY 
OVERDUE. 

BIOLOGY 

LIBRARY 

AM 

1 

nrn  1  fl  1937 

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APR   ,       U\ 

mSm    MAY  3.  1941 

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Result 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


